Mixing white and black window frames

4 years ago

We are doing an exterior update (paint, new light fixtures, potentially adding a big picture window to the front) to our 7yo home. We have all white windows currently. The paint colors will be beige with trim in dark grey (corbels and fascia) and white (soffits/garage door). I want to enlarge the single front bottom window into a large picture window. The rebel in me wants to do it in black even though our windows are white. We have black exterior light fixtures as well...

Has anyone done this or seen it done where it worked? I attached pictures where I think it works. Opinions?

As much as I’d love to replace all the windows in black, that’s just incredibly wasteful. Thank you!

Featured Answer

Katie B.
Original Author

4 years ago

For anyone who is curious and might read this thread, we decided to boycott the front window expansion/black frame idea. BUT- I’m still getting a black-framed window in the form of a folding door (replacing a sliding glass door) out to the backyard (see photo). I realized that mixing frame colors works best on doors (front door or sliding door= black works with windows=white, black and white windows wouldnt necessarily work).

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Comments (12)

PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
4 years ago
What are the windows currently made of? Can they be painted?
Katie B.
Original Author
4 years ago
That’s a good idea; although, they are vinyl, and I can’t imagine they can be painted.
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smitrovich
4 years ago
Those are very high-end custom steel welded doors and windows in your pics. You won't be able to achieve the same look with vinyl.
Katie B. thanked smitrovich
Katie B.
Original Author
4 years ago
I would not use vinyl for the picture window...
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PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
4 years ago
Agree that nothing is going to match the look of an architectural steel lineal. You can paint vinyl, but it is a bit tricky business. I would look at doing the home by elevations (i.e. N - S - E - W) so that everything matches.
Katie B. thanked Windows on Washington Ltd
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
Black vinyl IMO will look faded very quickly. I need to see your house to even hazard a guess.
Katie B. thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Katie B.
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you for the replies. If I were to go with black, I would NOT use vinyl. What attracts me to black windows is the industrial-ness of the steel. I’m just trying to figure out if I can make it work with my house. I’m all for taking risks.
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PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
4 years ago
Fiberglass is usually best option for the look of steel with some better insulation performance.
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Beth H. :
4 years ago
instead of the black, have you thought about bronze?

and instead of beige, why not do a dark charcoal or black trim? I think if you got your black window it would tend to tie it together better than beige and the one odd black window. ya know?

I have a similar style home. I did a black french casement window for my kitchen window that looks right out the front porch. there is only one other white window on the front of the house.

this is a horrible picture because it was right after painting and nothing was cleaned up, but it gives you an idea. the trim is Wrought Iron. you can just see the black window in the background
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Katie B. thanked Beth H. :
Katie B.
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Beth- your black trim does tie things together nicely. I wanted to do beige around the windows and a few other places to deemphasize the weird stucco over 2x4 window trim and accent stripe (?). I hate them. I see what you mean though. Hmmm.
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PRO
Beth H. :
4 years ago
I believe those are pop-outs? sometimes they use styrofoam molds. you could possibly see about getting them removed. don't know if it's more trouble than it's worth.

I like the ones around the window. I'd do those in a darker tone. as for the horizontal one, I'd prob try to remove or just paint them the same body color

try some sample paint colors. do one in the beige and the other in a darker color to match the dark windows. see which looks best
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Katie B. thanked Beth H. :